Within the active Old Market District of RhyDin and on a narrow cobbled-street with two-story connected brick-buildings lining each side of the road lays the home of the House of Retribution. It was situated inconspicuously between a quaint magic charm shop and the office of a popular massage therapist. Word had it she was quite good with her hands. Outside the building hung a sign announcing its name in an Old English script.

HoR had began solely as a charity organization ? a way for the owner to impact the lives of those she hurt in her previous job as the enforcement arm of Talsiny?s Nausikaa family. Yet when Charlotte ?Charlie? Nausikaa had found that the people of RhyDin would pay good money to have a cheating spouse beaten to a bloody pulp, to put a stop to demands of protection money by local bands of miscreants, or to have stolen property pilfered back from the thieves the House of Retribution became a money-making venture.

Her reputation in the dueling world and her days in the Talsinian underbelly along with the skill of the trio of private investigators she kept employed had driven the business to become such a success that her office in the House had become almost a second home. Yet the key to the success rested in the hands of a one Eleanor Spade.

This particular afternoon Eleanor -- secretary, accountant, and overall goddess of the House of Retribution -- pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and sat her hands on the curve of her slender hips. She drew up her most stern scowl and issued it on a man across the street. Through the haze of the afternoon sun and the front window of HoR that separated them, Eleanor was unsure if he had seen her expression. However, the action had made her feet the slightest bit better.

?Charlie!? She finally gave in to her concern to call out to her employer.

A large Rottweiler lifted his hefty jowls off the couch in the lobby to huff at her for waking him with the shout. She turned the frown on the dog instead and wagged a finger at him in admonishment. ?Don?t give me lip, Slash. You?re not even supposed to be up there.?

With another stout snort, the dog jumped from his comfortable spot and slowly moved his immense body towards his owner?s office. Charlie certainly wouldn?t yell at him for resting on the couch in that room.

Silence followed until Eleanor hollered again. Finally, she heard Charlie?s ankle-high black boots strike the battered wooden floorboards in perfunctory succession and stalk out of her office into the lobby. Eleanor continued to glare at the handsome man across the street ? just another nameless, faceless goon.

?What?? Charlie huffed with the same amount of irritation that Slash had given her at the interruption.

The clock ticked away the seconds with irritating regularity above Eleanor?s desk as her gaze swept towards her boss to chastise her for the gruff tone. However, the words caught in her throat upon taking in her profile. Exhaustion clearly littered her expression and concern tightened her features. Well, she certainly was going through a lot at the moment, was she not?

Charlie?s blue-green eyes had immediately found the dark suit across the street but she did not bring up the subject on her own. ?Did you want something??

?You should find Tareth. He?d put an end to this,? Eleanor advised as she nodded to indicate the man across the street as being what Tareth would put an end to. Yet, as soon as the words passed her lips, Eleanor realized just how deeply she had erred.

The exhaustion was dismissed by the affront. Her posture tensed dramatically and her chin set into a cold, hard line. ?I am more than capable of putting an end to this myself should I feel that is the best course of action. You need to accept that Tareth will not be coming around here any longer.?

Was that such a big surprise, really? After all, what relationship could survive Tareth?s solitary nature, Charlie?s inability to admit to even her closest friends that she was indeed in a relationship even after a year, and their vast collection of emotional baggage?

?How long are you going to allow these men to follow you and stalk this place before you actually do something about it? Do you even know who they are?? Eleanor pressed anxiously.

Charlie ran a hand through her loose blonde locks as she studied the man across the street closely. There were a handful of them following her on a rotating basis. They were always dressed in suits and never seemed to show the least bit of care that they were not exactly inconspicuous. Someone wanted her to know that she was being followed.

?They want to push me into acting first,? Charlie finally responded.

Tick, tock, tick. The clock continued to count away the afternoon and grate Eleanor?s nerves as she waited for Charlie to further elaborate on her reasoning. No explanation came. In fact, Charlie seemed bored by the watcher and raised her arms over her head to stretch her back. A yawn followed which she politely covered.

?So?? Eleanor finally asked as she tossed her hands up in frustration.

?So they want me to go over there and put a stop to that so I?m simply going to pretend to ignore them.? Her boss?s reply came briskly and with a ring of finality. With that, she turned on her heels and stalked back towards her office.

Charlie paused just before disappearing into her office. ?Oh, and Eleanor??

Eleanor turned back to Charlie hopefully. This game of wait and see took entirely more patience than she had. ?Yes??

?I think your clock is fast,? Charlie replied in a helpful tone that was meant to irritate before disappearing into the office.

Ruke LaChayne leaned back in his plush office chair and templed his fingers in front of his face as he listed to the commotion just outside his closed office door. It was obvious by the noise of the fight that his men were not on the winning side. He heaved a hefty sigh of burden and began shrugging off his suit jacket to face the inevitable.

A female voice shouted a grunt of effort which was shortly followed by the sound of a body hitting the wall just outside his door. By the time the office door was flung open with violent flare, Ruke was already on his feet and rounding his desk. He rolled up his shirt sleeves as the woman stepped through the doorway.

He had to admit she was a sight when she was in her element. Her chest heaved with the effort of the fight she had just won. Blood collected at a nasty gash that crossed her forehead near her hairline, matting the blonde locks that had escaped her low bun. He knew her well enough to know that at one point there had probably been a leather jacket to complete her ensemble. However, at some point in the fight it had been lost; leaving her athletic form clad in a white tank top which was covered in someone else?s blood. And only the tips of her black boots were visible beneath the cuff of her black pants

?Good afternoon, Charlie.?

A mere growl was all that he was rewarded with in response to his greeting. She immediately leapt towards him and, as was usually the case, her initial attack caught him. Ruke could never figure out just why he always had such a difficult time avoiding her first punch. This time it was a back-fisted blow drawn from her opposite ear that caught him on the left cheek, causing him to stumble back a step or two.

The second attack was expected. She loved to follow up a back-fist with a spinning side kick so he pushed his body towards the left rather than towards the right where she was hoping he would instinctively move to attempt to avoid the first punch. She landed awkwardly as her ankle twisted underneath her after the kick went sailing past him harmlessly.

He used her momentary disadvantage to drop into a crouch, sweeping out a leg to further upset her balance. Her legs were easily taken out from under her. With a pained grunt, she landed hard on her back and the air was shoved free of her lungs by the collision with the floorboards of Ruke?s office. He stepped over her, rubbing the reddening spot on his cheek with a hand to confirm that he jaw was still in one useable piece.

?The guards would have let you in if you had simply asked nicely,? Ruke sternly lectured down at Charlie.

The degree of her pain had been faked to stave off another attack and just as he came within range, she mercilessly twisted a leg around and sent a solid kick in at the back of his left kneecap. The knee buckled under the sudden strike and Ruke was brought to the floor. A second kick from the floor was delivered ? this one to Ruke?s solar plexus. It was his turn to gasp for air to reinflate his lungs. She rolled over top of him, pinning him to the ground with her weight and her hands shoved on either one of his shoulders. The extra weight against his chest made the struggle for air even more difficult.

?Why are you having me followed?? she snarled down angrily at him.

Ruke blinked up at the woman as confusion and curiosity always outweighed pain and the ability to breath in Ruke?s twisted mind. Most of the times he deserved these occasional beatings but he could honestly say that this particular time he was perfectly innocent of the act. ?I am not following you,? he hurled back forcefully, grabbing of her arms and twisting it behind her back. Ruthlessly, he forced her to her feet using the precariously held arm as he too rose.

A wounded cry escaped her lips as he held her tightly against him. She raised her voice to a labored whisper. ?I do not believe you.?

He frowned thoughtfully at her disbelief but before he could have a chance to give further proof to refute her accusation, she pulled her head away from him and then violently slammed the back of her skull against his nose. Charlie had not been too close to gain enough momentum to break his nose but, needless to say, the blow was surprising and painful nonetheless. He instantly released his grip on her arms as his hands leapt to cover his bleeding nose. Muffled curses were barely coherent from beneath his hands.

The sight of a sweeping axe kick being drawn up broke him from his cursing. Both of his hands rose to grab the attacking ankle. His defensive maneuver was perfectly timed to avoid a nasty blow to the back of the head. She made an emergency adjustment to her weight balanced on the foot still on the ground to keep from toppling over. However, the attempt was useless. Ruke?s grip on her ankle tightened and he shoved her backward by the leg. Charlie quickly drew the leg down to attempt to land on both feet. Unfortunately, the push sent her stumbling back several steps and the back of her head connected hard with the exposed brick wall of Ruke?s office.

Her body slid to the floor and she reached up with both hands to rub what would eventually be a knot in the back of her head. Ruke sighed down at the bloodied woman on his floor. He took a step closer to shake his head at her. ?I?m serious, Charskie. It?s not me having you followed.?

Again, just as he got within her reach, she sent a stunning blow at the same injured kneecap and Ruke was brought to the floor beside her. With labored breathing, he pulled himself to a sitting position, leaning his back against the wall beside her. ?True??

?Truce,? she grunted in return.

The only sound in the office for several long moments was their strenuous panting. Finally, Ruke rolled his head over to shift his pale blue gaze on Charlie. ?So who do you think is having you followed? Nausikaa??

She drew her knees up to her chest and placed her clasped hands on top of her head in an effort to control her gasps for air. ?I doubt it. Lord DiRossi maybe??

Ruke returned his gaze towards his desk, thoughtfully considering that option. The DiRossi family had been surprisingly quiet since they freed Zale Renzo and Charlie had blown their expensive magical liquid lightening sky high. There were reports that Lord DiRossi couldn?t take that his youngest daughter had fled with the trio and Ruke had chopped the lack of reprisal up to that. ?Maybe he?s hoping you?ll lead him to Maddie??

?Is she safe??

?Yeah,? Ruke grunted as he shoved himself to his feet. He held out a hand to her, taking the opportunity to scan her bare arms for any of those nasty patches of skin. ?How are you? Any death spots yet??

Charlie grasped his hand firmly and let him assist her to her feet. ?Not yet. Give me another month.?

?I?ll make sure Zale?s well-rested when it does happen.?

Ruke?s business-like tone drew Charlie?s sharp green eyes. ?What will I owe you this time?? she asked carefully.

He shot her a wide smile that seemed out of place with the blood dripping from his nose. ?We shall see when the time comes,? he stated in a friendly tone.

Her gaze slowly traveled down his body as if the search would bring up some answer. There was none and, thus, she snorted at him and turned for the open door. Several of the guards were just coming to and she gingerly stepped over their prone bodies. Each of their faces was examined in turn. If it was Ruke having her followed, he was not doing it with his usual lackeys. None of them looked familiar.

?Charlie.?

Ruke?s voice caused her to pause and she twisted her head over her shoulder to spot him standing in the doorway of his office. His gaze briefly swept the carnage outside before he lifted his gaze to her once more. ?Could it be Gavin??

Gavin. Gavin Varro or, as he was now infamously known, Gavin Nausikaa. While the reminder of her brother stung, the possibility was quickly dismissed. Gavin would not care enough about her one way or another to have her followed. She gave a single shake of her head in response to the question before turning down the hall and stalking towards the building?s exit.

Rhydin's Dueling Venues
3 years prior?

PJ had always been a sucker for the bad boy type. She could blame it on anything she wanted, the truth of the matter was that nice guys just finished last. Nice guys couldn't seem to tolerate the vicious, violent side of PJ. It was the bad boys that knew how to rein it in. Nice guys didn't like to see PJ get wasted. The bad boys encouraged it.

Gavin had seemed to fit into the bad boy role so well. He was eye candy to start. He had that quiet/cool thing going on. He never seemed to say much, at least not with words, but the looks he gave could send shivers down any girl's spine. That had certainly been the case with PJ.

His cool, even tones were far more commanding than Max's off-the-wall screaming at ever been. PJ found herself easily bending to Gavin's wishes? no matter what they happened to be. For a while there, PJ even thought she and Gavin might have a future together.

She'd been standing at his window, staring out into the RhyDin night, her breath fogging the glass. Idly, she'd taken her finger, and written "P + G" as though she were a crushing little schoolgirl. As the fog retreated on itself, PJ became aware she was no longer alone. She hadn't even heard him come in.

"What the hell is this?" Gavin's face was calm, but the tone spoke of rending PJ from limb to limb. He nearly stabbed PJ in the belly with the white, plastic pregnancy test. She knew she had buried it within her overnight case. She knew Gav checked up on her, calling her at all hours just to see where she was. She didn't know, however, that he had been regularly monitoring every other aspect of her life as well.

"What does it look like, Gav? It's a positive reading on a pregnancy test. You do know what a pregnancy test is, right?" PJ didn't even have time to regret her verbal swipe at him. His hand shot out and gripped her upper arm, yanking her away from the window and into him. His cool demeanor was cracking before PJ's eyes. His gaze was like daggers, edgy and sharp burrowing into her.

"You will not leave this apartment, you will not speak to anyone. You will not have your phone?" The list of "will nots" carried on, leaving PJ speechless, submissive and terrified.

"Until that child is born, You will abide by my rules?" It had been Gav's departing words as he turned and left the loft again; locking her inside.

And, thus, the twisted web that connects our heroines is revealed, illuminating that the key to their connection lies in a man that they both despise ? Gavin Nausikaa.

One would suspect it was the temperamental Gavin Varro whom was initially drawn into the Nausikaa crime family and then brought his hero worshiping little sister into the fold. However, it was, in fact, just the opposite. Charlotte was taken in by the powerful Henry and Arane Nausikaa after escaping her uncle?s abusive home. Upon the Varro siblings? reunion in Talsiny City five long years after they were separated at their father?s grave, it was Charlotte (by then Charlie Nausikaa) who had helped her brother obtain a job within the tight-knit organization.

Whereas Charlie had a handful of years of tranquil family life before her father?s death, PJ had not been so lucky. Thus, the fundamental difference between the two similar personalities would likely lie mainly in those first impressionable years. They left Charlie craving a life she knew she would never have again and PJ spurning any idea of a normal existence.

Perhaps that?s what initially drew PJ Ramirez to Gavin Nausikaa.

Gavin was anything but normal. His temper and unpredictability grew as he did and never sat well with his employers. By the time of her death, even his sister was barely speaking to him. Charlie?s untimely demise signaled the end of Gavin?s relationship with Nausikaa. He became a dangerous rogue operator with a growing reputation for brutality and a bad humor that could not be appeased.

PJ Ramirez came to be known about the dueling venues shortly after Charlie Nausikaa?s death. The only time PJ had ever even seen the Team Dueling League pin-up was hanging from a meat hook in a black body bag in the walk-in freezer of the Golden Ivey Tavern. Gavin certainly wasn?t forthcoming about having a dead little sister but, then again, Gavin was not forthcoming about much in his life.

The wish that PJ had to keep the baby?s father a secret when she fled Gavin?s loft had not been fulfilled. Gavin?s employers had quickly found that she had lied about the failed pregnancy. While Gavin was thankfully long gone from RhyDin by this point, the Nausikaas decided that PJ must be protected. Once again her freedom was ripped from her and her compliance was demanded.

Fortunately, it was about this time that PJ met Logan Blackbane ? a good man from a solid, connected family. Logan didn?t care that she was pregnant. He didn?t care that she was an utter mess. He believed he could save her. He loved her and, for a while, that was enough. It was enough for Nausikaa who was eager to accept that Logan was the father of PJ?s baby, not Gavin. It was enough for PJ. And, it certainly, was enough for the baby ? Liam.

But then the desire to flee, which had been bottled for longer than she could stand, overcame her shortly after Liam?s birth. Though she was convinced that he would be in better hands with Logan, leaving her son tore a piece away from her soul but the deeply engrained call to run was undeniable. After laying low for a year, PJ Ramirez returned to RhyDin and finally met a very undead Charlie Nausikaa.

Instant friends? The rest is history? Not exactly. But that?s another tale for another day. All that must be said is that they soon grew close and thanks to each woman?s mantra of avoiding saying anything of any importance, neither knew of the other?s connection with Gavin Nausikaa. While PJ knew Charlie was part of Nausikaa as well there was nothing to suggest that she and Gavin were actually related. After all, Nausikaa was simply a group of orphans who had chosen to adopt the same last name.

Thus, the events and revelations that would follow would be a complete and utter surprise to both women.

Freezing cold water dumped over her head brought consciousness with an onslaught of icy pain. She fired her mind into gear, immediately taking stock of her situation. There was no time to dwell on the mistakes that got her here in the first place. Escaping was her only concern. But, quickly it became apparent, that would be difficult. Rough rope bit into her forearms which were tied palm up to the arms of the chair they had sat her on. Her legs just above the ankles were tied to the legs. There was no give. Yanking at her limbs only created more pain as the rope rubbed her skin raw.

Suddenly Cole was before her, stroking her hair tenderly as he smiled down at her. Even now, even like this, he was handsome. God, how many years had it been since she had last seen him? With Cole, their dirty work would be followed with sweet drugs to numb the guilt and then vicious sex to distract from everything else.

He dropped down to a crouch beside her as his fingers lightly brushed down the curve of her chin. ?You remember Ronald, my dear, do you not??

Her green eyes swept past Cole and for the briefest of moments she could not hide the disgust from reaching her expression. Ronald Tiomialli. How could she forget?

Cole took a step back to watch from the comfort of a stool in the back of the room as Ronald stepped forward now that the reintroduction was complete. ?Where is the baby, dear?? Ronald asked sweetly, gripping her chin between his thumb and forefinger.

Charlie?s green eyes darted from Ronald back to Cole who watched from in stony-eyed silence. ?I don?t know what baby you?re talking about,? she whispered in return.

?Gavin?s child! Don?t act stupid!?

Gavin had a child? The news settled on her heavily. She could tell that Cole was carefully examining her reaction. There was no need to fake shock for she was truly taken aback by the news. ?I did not know he had a child," Charlie replied evenly.

A heavy back handed fist came across her cheek delivered by one of the guards. A surprised cry escaped her throat which was immediately followed by the taste of blood. They were serious. She did not need any further proof of that.

Ronald allowed silence to fall over the room, giving Charlie time to consider her next response now that she knew that they were not above beating her. God, how she wished she had slaughtered the man all those years ago!

"Tell us who has the baby."

Charlie spat a mouthful of blood disdainfully inches from Ronald's shoes. He laughed at the gesture, shaking his head. No more words passed between the pair. Instead, he nodded his head towards the imposing guards towering on either side of her.

The tactic was predictable. Ronald had learned a lot of torture in the years that passed. First they had told her how to save herself and now they would loosen her up. Charlie released a soft sigh, closing her eyes and steeling herself for the beating that she knew was about to follow.

* * * *

How long into that beating had she simply floated away into enveloping blackness? The beating had stopped once she had lost consciousness and the men had left her.

Yet, they did not leave her long. Another bucket of ice cold water brought her awake and was almost welcome for the jump kick it gave her senses. The questions that she could not answered returned as well. She remained silent as her mind worked over the idea that Gavin had fathered a child.

Finally, Charlie lifted her head and forced her voice to come forward. ?Fine, I will tell you where to find the baby. Write this down.?

The guard beside Cole glanced down at him for permission. Cole, with his arms crossed in front of his massive chest and never allowing his steely gray eyes to leave the woman, gave a single nod. The guard picked up a pad from the table and a pen, poised to take down the words.

?After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place the child was,? she murmured softly under her breath.

The guard?s pen flew over the paper rapidly to catch the words. Ronald?s bushy eyebrows rose. ?What is that? Some sort of code??

Cole rolled his eyes with a soft chuckle as he slid off his stool. ?No, you idiot. The Book of Matthew. She just quoted the directions to Christ?s manger.? His boots clumped against the wooden floorboards beneath his feet as he moved for the exit. ?Make her consider her next answer.?

Ronald grinned at the permission given. Without another thought, he viciously yanked the pliers back, ripping the thumbnail free of the finger. Cole closed the door on the scene and stomped his way down the hallway as a scream echoed through the dank, stale air.

* * * *

Combat boots were all she could see. The last beating had tipped the chair over which seemed to only make it easier and, thus, they left her there. Now the echoing thud of bloodied combat boots drove her awake.

The owner of the boots dropped to a crouch beside her and brushed away the hair that was hanging in her face so that she could see his face. Cole. Anger took more emotion than she had to give. Instead, she stared up at him unblinkingly. Cole?s lips finally parted in a sad smile after taking in the work that had been done on her so far. ?It would be better for you if you just told us where Gavin and your friend PJ are keeping the baby.?

PJ? What did PJ have to do with this mess? Who is this baby that they were looking for? The questions ran through her mind quicker than she could process them. The pieces never came together. Her mind was too sluggish, too overwhelmed. Charlie swallowed back the blood in her throat before testing her voice. ?I do not know what this is about. I did not know Gavin had a child.?

Cole heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head slowly. ?Then I am sorry but I will have to send Ronald back in here.?

?Cole, please, I?m telling you the truth,? she begged. She begged! Cole grinned at the accomplishment. He had to be the first man to lower the great Charlie Nausikaa to begging for mercy. How fantastic!

He tucked her hair behind an ear and rubbed her bruised and battered cheek with his thumb. ?I am sorry, my dear. But? I may be able to lessen the pain for you. Heroin was always your favorite drug to dull pain, was it not??

Heroin. A moan escaped her as she shut her eyes tightly against the temptation. Her year of sobriety had been so difficult to struggle for and done almost entirely thanks to Tareth?s support. Finally she had convinced herself that she could do it without him, that she no longer needed drugs. And now, the ability to dull the pain that shot from seemingly every nerve receptacle in her body sung sweetly to her.

?Beg me for it, Charlie. Beg me to end your pain,? Cole whispered into her ear in an almost loving tone.

There was no pride left. There was no hope left. Why not beg? If this was the end why not at least go to it in slightly less pain. ?Please give it to me. Please, Cole.?

He smiled and disappeared from her sight momentarily. For the shortest of seconds, she thought he would not fulfill his promise. But then the rewarding sensation of a pinprick in her right arm and the warm feeling as the liquid was injected into her body signaled the end of the unbearable pain.

Heaving a deeply relieved exhale, she closed her eyes and allowed her savior to set in. Sleep soon dragged her back into its confines as the energy used to fight exhaustion and pain slipped away with her sobriety into the black night? Or was it day? The blacked-out windows gave away no clues.

* * * *

Her head hung limply with a cascade of grungy blonde locks shrouding her face. Blood and salvia dripped from her mouth, pooling on the floor. Someone at some point had set the chair back on its four legs. The ropes were suddenly loosened from her wrists and ankles and she was dragged to her feet. Her green eyes made the concentrated effort to lift from the floor.

A pair of meaty guards held her on her feet by either arm. The cold dead eyes of Ronald Tiomialli met her own. His lips peeled back into a delighted smirk at the destruction he had caused. ?We are to move you now to a cell to give you some time to consider your responses before we begin again. Must we sedate you or will you follow along like a lady??

The anger was no longer controllable. While the wise thing would be to wait for an opening, her mind had been pushed beyond the brink of being able to weigh options and choose her best plan of escape. The torture had been at least successful in ripping her of hope of escape. Instead, she simply wanted blood.

Ripping out of the grip of the guards, she lunged for an empty syringe on the table. The guards were too stunned that she still had fight left in her to react. Her fingers curled around the syringe and swung the needle in at Ronald?s exposed throat. ?You son of a??

The last word was drowned out by Ronald?s scream as she plunged the needle into the man?s fleshy neck. The one blow was the only she could get off before she was hauled off her feet by the guards. She kicked out uselessly with her feet, screaming in rage. ?I?ll kill you this time, you disgusting bastard! I?ll kill you!?

An arm swung around her throat, cutting off her threats as it cut off her oxygen supply. Her fingers instinctively dug into the attacking arm but it only brought the pain anew in her blood encrusted nail-less fingertips.

Slowly her fight gave out and her body went limp. She did not close her eyes but blackness enveloped her anyway. The feeling struck her as familiar and it only took her another second to place it. It felt like death. Her last conscious thought was a silent prayer of forgiveness for her sins and a hope for a peaceful afterlife this time around.

Charlie Nausikaa threw open the door to the Red Dragon Inn in a fury. She was quite literally a grimy mess. Dried blood was caked on her fingers, hiding the horror that several of her fingers were now completely missing their nails. Her ripped clothing was splattered with a mixture of dirt and blood -- her blood, Ronald's blood. Her face was barely recognizable thanks to the numerous bruises, a black and swollen right eye, and her lip busted nearly in half.

All the rage running through her system had been directed on one person and, thus, she had eyes for only one person -- PJ Ramirez.

PJ was in true PJ form. Charlie watched as she strolled up to Gage's booth. Her torn up jeans rode low on her hips, strategic rips offering tantalizing peeks at tanned flesh. A black baby tee that read "I taught your boyfriend that thing you like" clung to her torso. The sight of the woman only enraged her further. With her jaw set in a fury, she twisted through the tables and chairs to intercept PJ.

?Char! What the hell?? PJ?s voice did little to calm her.

In fact, if anything, Charlie's anger was only spurred on by PJ's shock over her damaged face. ?You disgusting slut! How could you?? There was no greeting and certainly no warning. Charlie simply grabbed her best friend roughly by the shoulders and shoved her towards the door of the alley.

The startled looks from Rena and Val, the confusion etched on Gage, and even the shock on Cor?s features ? none of it was even noticed. Only PJ mattered at this point. The pair stumbled through the door and into the back alley.

Slut. The word incised PJ just as Charlie had known it would. PJ stumbled through the door, catching herself on the brick wall to keep from falling. Without pause, she spun about to face Charlie. ?Slut? What the livin? hell are you talking about??

The door swung open several times as Rena, Val, Cor, and Gage all joined the pair in the alley. Shock and surprise seemed to draw all four to a halt. It was the DoD?s Voice of Reason who finally found her voice first. ?What is going on??

PJ brushed off the brick dust from her palms before tightening her hands into fists. Her dark gaze turned from Charlie to Rena. ?Looks to me like our dear Charlie got on the wrong side of a drug deal or maybe her trick didn?t turn out right.?

?Shut the hell up!? Charlie exploded at PJ, pushing her back towards the wall once more. The combination of the drugs and the torture was weighing heavily on her hold on any semblance of logic or coherent conversation. ?You slept with my brother? How could you not have told me??

The short brunette?s body slammed into the wall once again. Her head bounced off of it like a little rubber ball. There was the inevitable wince but PJ?s adrenaline kicked in to dull the pain. Her steely gaze turned on Charlie and it was Charlie?s turn to be roughly shoved. ?Your brother? Who the hell are you talking about? I haven?t slept with anyone in years!?

Hell hath no fury like a pissed off PJ. The mere mention of Gavin?s name and the painful reminder of her son, Liam, certainly drove her over the edge. The other four were suddenly ignored as well. The thought of what Gavin had done to her and the new knowledge that Charlie was more than a little connected to him made PJ see red. Charlie had the misfortune of being at the center of that red. Misguided blame seemed to be the theme of the night and PJ would now join in on the game as well.

?I didn?t know he was your brother! I didn?t even know you when that asshole decided to knock me up! Was it you that taught him his little games??

Finally, Cor shook himself from the surprise that had settled over the four onlookers. His gaze had fallen to the hilt of the bloody pilfered dagger that was sticking out of the back pocket of Charlie?s dirty jeans. His concern and worry only deepened. ?Charlie, you need to see a doctor or a healer or something. Whatever this is, it can wait.?

PJ's taunt spiked Charlie?s temper but there was little energy left in her to fight. Even Cor went unheard. ?Little games? You?re both such trash! Trash! Where is the kid? Tell me where he is!?

?There ain?t never ever going to be a tainted Nausikaa hand touching Liam! Not even yours, you undead bitch!?

Only a best friend could nail both of her insecurities in one insult. PJ?s words broke the final strand of sanity that Charlie had been grasping to so desperately. Cor moved to cut in and the sound of his voice hit hear ears but the words could not be made out. Gathering up every ounce of what was left of her strength, she brushed past him to lunge at PJ.

PJ did not need any invitation. Her fists swung at Charlie?s already busted lips. It was then that the onlookers stepped in. Cor?s arms snaked around Charlie as gently as he could in an attempt to restrain her. He lifted her away from PJ protectively as Gage stepped in to snag PJ?s flailing arms.

The reactions of the two women once they had been restrained were as different as night and day. As soon as Cor?s arms slid around her battered body, Charlie sank into his hold. The fight was almost instantly gone and her bloodied face dropped to his shoulder. Her hands reached up to cling to fistfuls of his shirt as if looking for comfort after awaking from a horrible nightmare. PJ?s anger, on the other hand, had yet to run its course. She fought, kicked, and screamed in Gage?s arms. ?Lemme go! She?s not getting Liam!?

Cor?s arms tightened around her to keep her upright, providing a shield from the chaos that surrounded them. He dipped his head low, whispering in her ear, ?Charlotte, forgive me.?

The world was forgotten with those three words. Val and Rena?s concerned voices, PJ?s angry words, Gage?s attempts at calming her ? none of it mattered. The reality of what she had been through over the past twenty-four hours hit in an unbelievable rush. She stood in place, clinging to Cor for dear life.

?Pinche puta!? a bruised and bloodied Paige Jenna Ramirez screamed, tugging desperately at the rope that held her wrists against the arms of the chair and her ankles to the legs of the chair. The foul-mouthed brunette followed the insult by spitting in the face of her best friend and attacker ? Charlie Nausikaa.

Charlie slowly rose to her full height and brought the back of a hand across PJ?s cheek hard enough for her to taste blood in the back of her throat. A strangled cry escaped PJ?s swollen and cracked lips as her head twisted with the blow. She remained in place with her head twisted awkwardly to the side and long dark locks covering her face for a long moment as she confirmed she could still work her jaw.

?Callate!? Charlie commanded in return. The heavily-accented Spanish drew PJ?s surprised gaze and, in turn, PJ?s stunned look drew a satisfied smirk from Charlie. ?Oh, yeah. I speak Spanish. My Italian?s passable. Sta zitto e vai all?inferno. But my French is better. Ta gueule, sale pute.?

Cole Kelly stepped up out of the shadows of the room to come to a stop behind Charlie, dropping a calloused hand to her hip. Four of his fingers pressed into her black leather pants while his thumb pressed the warm bare flesh visible between the hem of her fitted black leather jacket and the low slung waistband of her pants. His lips spread in a slow smile. ?In our business it helps to know what people are saying about you when they think that you cannot understand them, you see. And our Charlie here has a knack for languages. In fact, her Latin is most impressive.?

PJ spat out a mouthful of blood aimed at one of Cole Kelly?s expensive leather boots. ?So fucking what? What do you want from me??

Charlie pulled herself from Cole?s grip to drop to a crouch before her friend. ?I want to know where my nephew is, PJ.? The words slid out evenly cold and unyielding, threatening unspoken repercussions for not responding with the information desired.

?He?s dead.? PJ muttered beneath her breath. Her dark gaze found her friend, imploring her to end this. ?How many more times do I have to say that to you, Charlie??

?Oh, that?s the last time,? Charlie said in such an innocent manner than even Cole knew it was time to take a step back away from her. She reached over to her desk to pick up a syringe already filled with poison.

PJ?s fearful brown eyes followed Charlie?s every movement. Her body tensed in anticipation of the needle prick. There was no escaping. Her curvy frame was tied tightly to the chair with the undersides of her arms facing up. The injection warmed her from the inside, radiating an almost instantly sleepy sensation to her nerve endings. ?What did you just do to me?? PJ asked, tripping over her thickening tongue.

The syringe was tossed aside carelessly and a slow, wicked smile settled on her best friend?s lips. ?I just gave you a toxin that is currently shutting down your systems one by one and will end with your heart in?? Charlie paused to consult her watch. ??about ninety seconds. I have an antidote but I?m only giving it to you if you tell me where the child is.?

The air was alive with electricity even before Charlie?s announcement. Her words brought a shocked silence to PJ and Cole. This was certainly not part of their plan. Cole cursed himself silently. He should have known better than to trust Charlie to take the lead in interrogating the spunky model. He slid an arm around his old friend?s waist and drew her lithe form in tightly against his, searching for her gaze but Charlie?s sea-green gaze never left PJ. So Col dropped his head to whisper softly into her ear, ?What are you doing, Char? Give her the antidote. She can?t tell us anything if she?s dead.?

Her hand reached up to his chest and firmly planted in his sternum to push him away. ?You have sixty seconds left, PJ. Where is my nephew??

?The baby is dead, Charlie!?

The words brought a sudden storm of fury. Charlie stepped forward and roughly grabbed PJ by the chin. Perhaps she would have gasped in pain if her body wasn?t all consumed fighting the impending sleepiness that was coming over. She felt her body slipping away. Charlie gave her head a hard shake with a thumb buried into the right side of her jaw and her other fingers pressing into her left cheek. The snap of her head brought her back into the moment and her dark eyes slipped up to Charlie. ?You have thirty seconds. Twenty-nine, twenty-eight??

Cole stood stock still watching PJ as tears slid desperately down her cheeks and she began to beg her best friend for her life. ?He?s dead. Please believe me, Char. He?s dead.?

A booted foot was launched out at the arm of the chair and sent the chair tipping back. The ropes were too tight for PJ to break free. All she could do was brace as the back of the chair hit hard on the wooden floorboards. Her head bounced like a ball and then struck again to come to an uncomfortable rest on the floor. A stifled cry of pain was the only sound that she allowed.

?Nineteen, eighteen , seventeen??

It wasn?t until PJ?s dark eyes slipped shut, her body slumped against her rope restraints, and he couldn?t see her chest rising and falling with her breaths that Cole realized Charlie wasn?t bluffing. The woman truly was crazy enough to torture and then murder her best friend. But he discovered this all too late. He stepped forward quickly, pressing two fingers against her neck. Nothing. He felt no heart beat.

PJ Ramirez was dead.

Cole?s steely gaze leapt back on Charlie whose lips twisted into a slightly perturbed frown. There was no guilt, no regret for the death. ?Huh. I was off by about fifteen seconds,? Charlie mused.

Before Cole could even muster a reply, one of his men knocked on the door. Without waiting for a response, the door was swung open and the man stepped through the door. His gaze only lingered on the corpse in the room momentarily before sweeping up to Cole. ?Her story checks out. We found hospital records indicating that she gave birth to a stillborn baby boy a year and a half ago.?

?Oops,? Charlie murmured, giving PJ?s body a nudge with a booted foot. ?Yep. She?s dead alright.?

?Let?s get out of this city,? Cole muttered to the man who gave a brisk nod. He didn?t need to be told twice. The death of the popular ?Queen of Badside? would not go over well. Cole followed him towards the doorway, pausing only briefly to glance over his shoulder. ?We?ll catch you around, Charlie.?

?Prends garde, mon amont.?